HMS Bickington

Ship: HMS Bickington
Pennant No:  M1109
Laid Down: 21st September 1951
Completed: 25th May 1954
Time to Build: 32 months
Built By: Whites, Southampton (Itchen)
Commissioned: 3rd October 1954 for 101st (RNR) Minesweeping Squadron (MSS), for Shoreham
Years Fully Operational: 32

Outline of Operational Career:

• 27 Jul 54 Allocated to Sussex RNR and arrived at Shoreham
• 30 Oct 54 Renamed HMS CURZON
• 1954-60 Exercises, visits and training periods
• Oct 60 Reverted to HMS Bickington for Deltic Conversion
• 4 Mar 62 Transferred to Forth Division RNR based at Leith
• 24 Mar 62 Renamed HMS KILLIECRANKIE
• 1962-75 Exercises, visits and training periods
• 7 Jan 76 Transferred to Fishery Protection Squadron and reverted to HMS BICKINGTON
• 1976-86 UK Fishery Patrols, visits and exercises

Significant Events:

• Oct 62 Visit by King Olav of Norway at LOCHINVAR
• 1963-69 Annual 4 week deployment with 10th MCMS to Gibraltar for exercise ROCKHAUL
  • Except Aug 65 - attended Royal Fleet Review on Clyde
• May 1068 Took part in live minesweeping Operation NEW BROOM, Borkum
• Aug-Oct 70 Exercise MAINHAUL – 6 weeks deployment to Gibraltar & Italian Ports
• Dec 74 In collision with East German MV 'Sirrah' off Sheerness
• Jul 77 Rescued FV 'Artilleryman' kidnapped by French FV off Plymouth
• Apr 82 CO & most of crew transferred to MV JUNELLA to deploy to Falklands as a minesweeper with 4 other converted FVs
• Sept 85 Arrested German FV 'Scombrus' in North Sea after 2 hour chase

Paid Off: 31st July 1986
Disposal: 23rd August 1988 to Vickers Dismantling Ltd for break-up